A Matter of Facts

Following the collection and release of Census data every 10 years, states must redraw the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts to account for population change and balance them for equal population and other criteria. In this installment of A Matter of Facts, we provide an overview of the steps involved in redistricting.

Did you know there’s an election coming up? There are city elections happening across Minnesota on November 2nd, and the Libraries has you covered with voting and elections resources. Many voters in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and several Twin Cities suburbs may be using ranked choice voting for the first time, so we have the complete breakdown to prepare you at the polls. Make a big impact in your community by voting local!

Welcome back to campus! Whether you are new to Minneapolis and Saint Paul or you have been here for a while, getting involved in your local government is a great way to meet new people, learn how the legislative process works, build up your resume, and make a difference.

After the insurrection at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — with hundreds of Trump supporters swarming and entering the Capitol building in opposition to Trump’s presidential election loss — lawmakers are poised to remove Trump from office. The three primary ways we are seeing this unfold is through impeachment, the 14th Amendment, or the 25th Amendment.

Were you planning to vote by mail, but worry that there won't be enough time to apply for, receive, and return your ballot? In Minnesota, you can also return your absentee ballot in person, vote early in person before Election Day, or vote in person on Election Day. Get more details in this A Matter of Facts post.

The next election in Minnesota is the Nov. 3 general election for the President and Vice President as well as seats in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Minnesota Legislature, and judicial offices. The two options for early voting in Minnesota are by mail via an absentee ballot or voting at an early vote center. This article discusses both options and what steps you need to take to vote early.

In this installment of "A Matter of Facts," Julie Dinger explains why the election is held on a Tuesday in November, employee voting rights, and more.

Por Alicia Kubas y Del Reed Traducido por Rafael E. Tarragó, Bibliotecario para Estudios sobre Iberia, Iberoamérica y los Chicanos/Latinos de los Estados Unidos. Las próximas elecciones que van a tener lugar en Minnesota son  las...

Ever considered being an election judge? In this issue of "A Matter of Facts," you'll learn about the pluses of being an election judge, application information, what election judges do, when election judges work, and how to apply?

The U of M Libraries "A Matter of Facts" team provides you with the info you need to know about voting by mail in the 2020 election — both the primary and the general election.

Does defunding the police mean completely abolishing police departments? What public safety measures would still be in place if police departments were defunded or disbanded? In this installment of "A Matter of Facts," we provide resources and background information on this topic in the Minneapolis area but also focus on police reform in other parts of the United States.

As the global cases of COVID-19 virus climb past the 700,000 mark, the term “PPE” or personal protective equipment has been heard from governors, the president, health officials, and others as they address the nation in how we can all come together to battle the spread of this virus. This post defines PPE and offers guidance on what is acceptable to donate the health care community.

In this "A Matter of Facts" article from the University Libraries, you will find trusted information and resources on COVID-19, an acute respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus first identified December 2019 in Wuhan, in China’s Hubei Province.

Get background, details on what's new, and links to news and resources about presidential primary elections in Minnesota in this installment of "A Matter of Facts" from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

With the current impeachment proceedings underway for President Trump, understanding how impeachment works and the earlier precedents for impeachment provides some context for this process. In this installment of A Matter of Facts, we provide background and resources to help you think critically about this topic.

Americans have become more familiar with federal government shutdowns in the past year. We’ve experienced three shutdowns in 2018/2019 for a combined total of 17 days and counting, and no one can forget the 16-day shutdown in 2013. What makes the current shutdown different is that it’s a partial shutdown with only 25 percent of the federal government going unfunded. This blog post provides information and resources for better understanding the issues related to the shutdown.